Sankranthi: Do you know cockfighting has been banned? Be a good citizen, report bloodied sport

Vijayawada: Sankranthi is here and the most exciting part of the festival is cockfights, especially in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

Despite the ban, many villages in the Godavari region and coastal Andhra Pradesh conduct cockfights every year. Crores of rupees are riding on the cockfights.

Going against such activities, Humane Society International/India, an animal protection organization is urging citizens to report cockfighting.

What is cockfighting?

In cockfights, two roosters, often fitted with a razor-sharp curved blade on their spurs, are forced to fight each other to death. The fight ends with either one or both of the roosters dying. The remaining rooster inevitably dies from grievous injuries sustained in the process.

Cockfighting is prevalent in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu during Sankranti.

What does the society say?

According to the HSI/India’s Managing Director Alokparna Sengupta, "Engaging in cockfighting not only inflicts immense suffering on animals, is linked with cockfights and exploits people,". He urges every individual to dissuade others from indulging in this inhumane & unlawful activity and promptly inform the nearest police station of any cockfights being organized or conducted.

Facts of cockfighting:

During such cockfighting events, large audiences attend where bets ranging from a few thousand to crores of rupees are placed.

Organizers set up large arenas on open lands, sometimes on grounds of schools, to accommodate ‘fight-rings’, ‘viewing seats’, and areas for stalls/tables for other gambling like dice or card games.

What does the Act say?

The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 under sections 11(1)(m)(ii) makes it an offense to incite animal fights. Organizing, keeping, using, or acting in the management of any place for animal fighting or permitting or offering any place to be used for such purpose is a cognizable offense under section 11(1)(n) of the Act.

In addition to the cruelty inflicted on these birds, cockfighting events are intrinsically linked with gambling, and the arenas also serve as a focal point for various other illegal activities such as the sale of illicit liquor. The Andhra Pradesh/Telangana Gaming Act of 1974

People risk their hard-earned money in the bets on such fights. Every year the betting runs into thousands of crores according to media reports, Cockfighting events pander to child labor and expose them to extreme violence against animals. Children are often used to deliver liquor from stalls at the animal fighting arenas. They are also made to defeat and butcher the dead/dying birds. Such activities have profound implications on their physical and mental well-being.

"It is also extremely dangerous for humans who are present at such illegal events. Just last year, at two different places, two people succumbed to wounds caused by knives tied on roosters. Several people are injured in the crowded arenas and fights break out over the bets," said Alokparna Sengupta.

Where to report?

Any individual who comes across cockfighting events can report to 100.